Federalism

federalism

political system of government with multiple levels

• each level has independent authority over some important policy areas

lower level in federalism

• constitutionally protected and woven into the political system

  • coexist with and can not be abolished by the central government

  • states, congress can not alter state lines etc / counties- preechers can be set up abolished boarders fixed wahtever by state law

confederations

political system with multiple levels of government where lower level government retains full sovereignty and can not be compelled by the national government to act

• articles of confederation

• collective action problems

• requires voluntary compliance

response to collective dilemas

federalism

dual federalism

political system where each level of government national and state is sovereign on its own sphere of policy authority

layered cake

cooperative federalism

system where both levels of government are active in nearly all areas of sovereign authority

marble cake

what kind of cake is americal federalism

layered ———> marble cake

national government only

• national defense

• currency

• tarrifs and trade

• negotiate treties

mostly states and local governments

• traffic regulation

• k-12 3ducation

• zoning

• marrige

• insurance regulation

shared by national and states

• social welfare

• tax collection

• reseasrch adn development

• businuess regulation

intergovernmentalism

multiple levels of government are active in a given policy area

intergovernmental relations

relationship between different levels of government

• struglle between nat gov and states for authority over a specific policy domain

• pertain to the coordination of action between the levels to achieve common goals

federalism attempts to balance

legitament authority of national government & states in equilibrium.

• Properly working system will self correct and tilt back, (ie court rulings)

supremacy clause—-article 7

• national law overrules state laws

• mandates that state officials swear allegiance to united states

article 1 section 10

staets cant negotiate treties or make own money

article 4 sec 2-4

states boundaries and fugatives crossing

article 1 section 8 —- elastic clause

congress can make whatever laws are necessary and proper in order to provide the means to carry its enumerated powers (powers explicitly expressed by constitution

enumerated power in article 1 section 8

congress regulates commerce with other nations among states and native americal tribes

progressive era

1896-1913

• commerce can be regulated

• income tax in 1913

new deal

1933-1952

• far reaching policy weve ever had

• beuras established to get out of great depression

• beaucracy exists

• social security

• people saw federal government more important

great society era

1964-1977

• use national governemtn to fix societal probems

• started working more with state govs more, move to marble cakes

• loans for infastructure education etc

recent trends

supreme courts rule more on wanting more for the states

slanted towards the governemtn but tiling more now towards the states

federal financing

• grants in aid-

• categorical grants-

• revenue sharing-

• block grants-

grants in aid — fed financing

• money granted to lower level government with the purpose of funding special projects

categorical grants— fed financing

• grants that narrowly define how the funds are the be spend. usually come with conditions that need to be satisfied in order to use money

revenue sharing —- fed financing

• naitonal gov and lower level governments cooeprate in funding a project

block grants —- fed fiancing

• sums of money transferred to lower level govenrmnt that as long as the general purpose of the grant is met, the lower level governmnts are allowed considerable freedom in deciding how the money is spent

  • nautral disasters money elatocated

problems with federal financing

• revenue of states tied to government funding

• if states dont comply with government, they can cut funding.

Are states so reliant on federal funding, have they lost their freedom to act?

when federal gov fails to fund SOL

every state is bicameral except

nebraska 1977, got rid of senate

ballot initatives

election in which citizens vote directly on a proposition raised by a group of fellow citizens

referendums

election in which citizens vote directly on whether to overturn a bill or a constitual amendment that has been passed by the legislature

recall election

an election during the term of an elected officla in which citizens vote directly whether or not to remove the individual from office

local governments

home rule and special districts

home rule

constitutional or legal authority held by local government that allows them to govern themselves with little to no interference from teh state.

37/50 states have approved

special districts

created due to problems with county cities etc arise, traffic, airports overcrowed, enforcers for the problems

more centralized

unitary system (france, jap, sk)

middle

federations- us germ aus can braz rus india belgium

decentralized

confederation - EU AEB, us 1776-89